R2Bees

R2Bees is a Ghanaian hip hop and hiplife duo from Tema, comprising two cousins, Faisal Hakeem and Rashid Mugeez. They were nominated for the 2013 BET Awards.^[1] In March 2019, the duo released their third studio album, Site 15.^[2]

R2Bees
Origin	Tema, Ghana
Genres	Afrobeats hip hop hiplife highlife
Occupations	Singer-songwriter
Years active	2007–present
Labels	R2Bees Starboy
Members	Faisal Hakeem Rashid Mugeez

Career

2007–2012: Da Revolution I

R2BEES's first single, "Yawa Gal", was released in August 2008. They then went on to release "I Dey Mad", which featured Unda melodies. The song topped most Ghanaian Radio Music Charts for weeks. In 2010, R2Bees released "Kiss Your Hand" as their third single.

In 2009, R2Bees released a 17-track album Da Revolution, which has already released songs; "Yawa Girl", "I dey Mad", "T.E.M.A", "Kiss Your Hand" with new songs; "Radio", "One more Chance" and "Africa" with production from KillBeatz (Joseph Addison) as well as guest appearances from Wande Coal, Sarkodie, Samini, Kwaw Kese and a host of others.^[3]

2013–present: Da Revolution II: Refuse to be Broke

Their second studio album, Refuse To Be Broke – Da Revolution II, was released on 29 March 2013. The album had guest appearances from Wizkid, Sherifa Gunu, Davido, Tinchy Stryder and Voicemail. The album's production was handled by KillBeatz.^[4] R2Bees released their first official single for 2014, "Lobi". The highlife influenced song video was released on 25 September 2014.

Recognition and music style

R2Bees often sing and rap in their native language Twi and Pidgin. R2Bees is one of the top purveyors of Ghanaian hip pop subgenre hiplife, which mixes rap with sounds of highlife (African pop music) and reggae. In 2012, R2Bees was featured in the Forbes list of "African celebrities to watch in 2013".^[5] R2Bees have performed on the same stage with international musicians such as American R&B singers Mario and J Holiday.^[6]

Discography

Studio albums

• Da Revolution I (2009)
• Da Revolution II: Refuse to be Broke (2012)
• Omar Sterling – Victory Through Harmony (2017)
• Site 15 (2019)
• Back 2 Basics (2021)^[7]

Awards and nominations

BET Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
BET Awards 2013	R2Bees	Best International Act: Africa	Nominated	[8]

Ghana Music Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2015	R2Bees	Group of the year[9]	Nominated
	Lobi	Highlife song of the year[9]	Nominated
	Killing me softly	Afro pop song of the year[9]	Nominated
2014	R2Bees	Group of the year[10]	Won
		Hiplife/ Hip Hop Artiste of the Year[11]	Nominated
		Artist of the year[11]	Nominated
	"Slow down"	Best Collaboration of the Year[10]	Nominated
		Vodafone Song of the Year[10]	Nominated
2013	R2Bees	Artiste of the Year[12]	Won
		Hiplife/ Hip Hop Artiste of the Year[12]	Won
		Group of the Year[12]	Won
	Slow down	Best Collaboration of the Year[12]	Won
	Life	Vodafone song of the Year[12]	Won
	"Odo"	Highlife Song of the Year[12]	Won
	Bayla Trap	Hip Life/Hip Hop Song of the Year[12]	Nominated
	Odo	Male Vocal Performance[12]	Nominated
	Mugeez	Song Writer of the Year[12]	Nominated
2011	Kiss your hand	Afro pop song of the year[13]	Won
		Collaboration of the year[14]	Won
	R2Bees	Hip pop/Hiplife artist of the Year[14]	Nominated

The Headies

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2013	R2Bees	Best African Artiste[15]	—
2014			Nominated

Nigeria Entertainment Awards

Year	Nominee / work	Award	Result
2013	R2Bees	Western African Artist or Group of the Year	Nominated
2014		African Artist of the Year (Non-Nigerian)	Nominated

Selected videography

Year	Title	Director	Ref
2015	Gboza Featuring Davido	Justin Campos of Gorilla Films	[16]
2016	Tonight Featuring Wizkid	Sesan Ogunro	[17]
2017	Plantain Chips	ThisIsbutta	[18]